Santa Monica Dems Host State Senate Candidate Forum Next Week, Endorsements the Following Week.

Wait, it’s campaign season already?

With State Senator Ben Allen term-limited out of office, there’s been a cluster of qualified candidates that have announced their intention to run for the vacant seat in 2026. With the primary over 10 months away on June 2 of next year, it might be a little early for most people to be thinking about their votes, but for political clubs early endorsements mean greater influence on the election.

Next Wednesday, September 10, eight candidates for State Senate will join the Dems. Club at the Church at Ocean Park for the first candidate’s forum of the SD 24 Senate race. Interested parties can also join on zoom. You can RSVP here. 

Confirmed debate participants as of the time of publication include (titles and/or descriptions via the Dems. Club):

Former Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Eric Alegria

West Hollywood Councilmember John Erickson

Neighborhood Leader & Civil Rights Activist Ellen Evans

Democratic Strategist & Small Business Owner Brian Goldsmith

LA Human Relations Committee President Brittany McKinley

Former LA Planning Commissioner Mike Newhouse

Santa Monica College Board of Trustees Vice Chair Dr. Sion Roy

Venice Neighborhood Councilmember Nico Ruderman

On September 17 at their membership meeting on zoom, the club will vote on endorsements for the 2026 primary and on the special election on Proposition 50 (redistricting) that will be held this November. You can RSVP for that meeting here.

To vote, you must be a member in good standing. For new members, the deadline to join has already passed. If you were a member in 2024, you can re-up your membership and still vote in the endorsement meeting. Information on joining the club can be found here.

Membership will vote on endorsements in the following races at the 9/17 meeting:

• State Proposition 50 (Election Rigging Response Act)

• State Treasurer

• Attorney General

• Secretary of State

• State Controller

• State Senate (SD24)

Members must RSVP for the September 17 Endorsement Meeting here in order to receive a ballot: 

📅 Date: September 17, 2025

🕡 Time: Doors Open 6:30pm, Program Start 7:00pm

📍 Location: Zoom ONLY

✍️ RSVP Now: 

About The Author

Damien Newton

Damien is the executive director of the Southern California Streets Initiative which publishes Santa Monica Next, Streetsblog Los Angeles, Streetsblog San Francisco, Streetsblog California and Longbeachize.

See author's posts